Martin Mansergh (Fianna Fail)

The final point relates to the National Economic and Social Forum report, which is more a concern of the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, and what it states about community employment, a particular bugbear of mine. It states that it ought to be reviewed and that more of the activities should be mainstream. That is fine but there are immediate, urgent problems, including people being let go and not replaced.

Community employment is vital to community organisations and to people who are among the least advantaged in our workforce. I hope the social partners, the trade unions, the community and voluntary pillar and the Government will look again at that whole area because it is resulting in some very undesirable consequences. This is not just a problem for cities but it is a problem throughout provincial Ireland and I hope the Minister of State will use his influence to address it because the decisions taken some years ago are not working out well.